Material-feeding device



Feb. 25, 1930. ,1. G. MARSHALL MATERIAL FEEDING DEVICE Filed April 5x0, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 25, 1930. J MARSHALL 1,748,780

MATERIAL FEEDING DEVICE Filed April 30, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 1 Patented Feb. 2,5, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JAMES G. IYIARSHALL, OF NIAGARA FALLS, YORK, ASSIGN OR TO ELECTRO METAL- LURGICAL COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA MATERIAL-FEEDING DEVICE Application led April 30,

My invention relates to devices adapted to the smooth regular feeding of materials to a processing device, and particularly to v the feeding of granular materials to an electric furnace.

In electric furnace processes it is necessary that the material operated upon be fed to the furnace with'reasonable regularity, and particularly in the smothered arc type of furnace it is desirable that the `materials under processing be fed around the carbon which supports the arc. In the past this has customarily been done by hand-feeding.

My invention provides simple, convenient means for the mechanical feeding of materials to the furnace, whereby a substantial cone of material is maintained around the arc carbon. The device of my invention is particularly advantageous because of the fact 2o that it permits a cone of material, to be maintained clear to the roof ofthe furnace, and extending upward through the roof, around the carbon in such a manner as to provide a closure which minimizes the loss of furnace vapors and dust and prevents undue outward passage of heat and radiatlon.

Other objects and details of my invention will be apparent from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings; wherein,

Figure l is a diagrammatic view, partly in section of a furnace equipped with the de'- vice of my invention,

Figure 2 is a view in vertical section of the device of my invention, l

Figure 3 is a view in horizontal section of the device' shown in Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a view of a detail of the track and runner members of the device of my in- 40 vention.

In the figures, a furnace l having a roof 2 is diagrammatically shown. This construction may take any desired' form according to the process being conducted and the requirements thereof. Carbone 3, in a number determined by the requirements of the processare provided, positioned within openings in the roof 2 and supported and energized by any appropriate means such as those well known in the prior art.

1928. S'rial No. 274,144.

n rIlhe openings in the roof member 2 are desirably outlined by rings 4, which serve to and also as foundation members for the feeding device of my invention. A track member 5 is mounted upon the foundation ring 4 by any convenient means. This may take the form of lugs 6 and 7 and bolts 8, which may be spaced at convenient positions around the periphery of the foundation ring and track.

Upon the track member 5 is positioned a l rotatable ring member 9, having roller members 11 cooperating with the track member 5. rIhe ringmemberfhnay be equipped withagear l2, adapted to cooperate with a worm gear 14 which is Amounted upon a shaft l5. Alternatively any other convenient method of driving may be utilized, such for instance as reciprocating rods actuating a pawl andratchet device whereby a movement of the ring member 9 is produced by each reciprocation of the rod. These rods may be driven in any convenient way as by means of a crank, actuated by some convenient source of power. Likewise other driving systems may be used, as

for example spur gears, chains, or shafts and bevel gears.`

Runner members or plows 16. are attached to the rotatable member 9, within the inner opening therein. These runnerV members may take any desired form such as the inverted V form shown, or may take the form of a plow. rI'he runner members 1G may be made of such a width as to extend from the ring member 9 almost to the surface of the electrode 3. It is however, desirable that a certain amount of clearance space be allowed, to avoid injury from ir` regularities in the electrode 3 or from the wedging of particles of material being processed. A "4"' As shown in Figure l, the shaft 15 or other driving means may be extended to all of the electrodes in the furnace, and each electrode may be equipped with the device of my in` vention shown in Figure 2, to provide for the feeding of the desired material to each of the respective carbons. The shaft 15 or other feeding device may conveniently be driven by strengthen and reinforce the roof structure 2 a motor 17 or other source of power at an appropriate speed, and clutch members 18 may be provided for controlling the rotation of the feeding members at the respective electrodes whereby the rate of feed to the respective electrode carbons may be independently controlled.

A chute member 19 is likewise provided for the conveyance of the material being processed to the electrode. The chute 19 may be connected to any convenient source of supply of the material such as a conveyor system, mixer, bins, etc.

In the operation of the device of my invention, the raw material 21 may be supplied through the chute 19 and discharged upon the runner 16 within the ring 9. Rotation of the ring 9 by the gear 111 and shaft 15 carries the material around the electrode 3 by the action of the runners 16, and accordingly the material discharges along the periphery of the electrode 3 through the opening in the roof 2 and collects within the furnace in a cone around the electrode 3. The continued supplying of material and rotation of the ring 9 conveys the material to the far side of the electrode 3 and results in the maintenance of a cone of material surrounding the electrode and extending tothe roof of the furnace.

The material may be fed simultaneously *through the respective chutes 19 to all of the electrodes within the furnace, and under normal operating conditions the rate of feed will be .substantially the same for all of the electrodes. Under abnormal operating conditions, however, it is possible to control the feed of material at the electrodes independand uncertainties incident to hand feeding are avoided.

surrounding an electrode, a rotatable ring carried thereon and surrounding the electrode, plow members attached to said rotatable ring, means for rotation thereof, and means for the delivery thereto of processable materials.

3. In a material feeding device for an electric furnace comprising a supporting ring fitting an opening in the furnace through which an electrode passes and through which the material is fed, a track member attached to said supporting ring vand likewise surrounding the electrode, a rotatable ring member adapted to rotate around the electrode upon said track member, plow members attached thereto within the opening thereof and cooperating between the ring and the electrode, means for the delivery of processable materials to said ring member and said plowsl` and means for the rotation of said ring member comprising a gear member attached thereto, a power actuated shaft and a gear thereon cooperating with said first-mentioned gear.

4. -Means for the feeding of material around a furnace electrode comprising a chute member and a rotatable plow adapted to carry material from a point at said electrode adjacent to said chute to an point around said electrode and deliver t e conveyed n'iaterial to the annular space between said electrode and said annular ring.

ln a material feeding device for an electric furnace, comprising a cup shaped member having a hole in the bottom thereof through which processablematerials are fed into the furnace between the rim of the hole and the furnace electrode surrounded by said member, and a means for rotating said member.

In testimony whereof, Iatlix my signature.

JAMES G. MARSHALL.

While I have shown but a -single embodiy ment of the device of In invention it is capable of modifications tfierefrom without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and it is desired therefore that only such limitations be applied to the appended claims as are indicated therein or required by the prior art.

I claim as myv invention:

1.v A material feeding device comprising an annular ringsurrounding an electrode, plow members attached thereto, means for the rotation thereof, and means for the delivery of processable materials thereto.

2. A` material feeding device for an electric furnace, comprising a supporting ringl 

